AIM: To investigate the effect of compound rhubarb preparation (Kintop) in preventing obesity in rats and its probable mechanism involved. METHODS: Twenty-six newborn SD rats were randomly grouped as rhubarb preparation plus high-energy forage group( n= 8), high-energy forage control group( n= 8) and ordinary forage control group( n= 10). The rats in rhubarb preparation plus high-energy forage group and high-energy forage control group were fed with high-energy forage and those in ordinary forage control group were fed with ordinary forage. The rats in rhubarb preparation plus high-energy forage group were administered by compound rhubarb preparation (40 mg?100 g -1 body weight?d -1 ) from 9th to 17th week. The dynamic changes in body weight, celiac fat weight and adipocytes size were measured. Immunohistochemical analysis of leptin in celiac adipocytes (ABC method) and measurement of serum leptin level (RID method) were performed. RESULTS: The body weight and the wet weights of celiac fat were lower, their adipocytes were smaller and immunohistochemical stainings of leptin were weaker in rhubarb preparation plus high-energy forage group than those in high-energy forage control group. There was an obvious positive correlation between the expression of leptin and celiac fat tissue weight( r= 0.8663, P

This article describes a method totransfer physiological data through carrier-current communication.The microcontroller measures the data of heartrate and body temperature and sends them through the serial port tothe carrier-current module implementing carrier-current communication.This method can be used totransfer physiological data through short distance less than200meters.

AIM: To set up and evaluate a computerized image scoring system for quantification of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) that is independent of examinee.METHODS: The PCO model was made in rabbits. Following dilation of the pupil (＞6.5mm), standardized digital images of the PCO were obtained using slit-lamp photographic system(digital camera, computer included). PCO was scored by evaluating retroillumination photograghs. The PCO score was calculated by the formula: PCO score=∑ (OD×AI in CR)×2 +∑(OD×AI in OR), in which OD is opacity density (class 0 to 4),AI is the opacity area fraction, CR is the central region (diameter=3mm), OR is the outer region (3-6mm ring region).To evaluate the reliability of the scoring system, 6 examiners scored the pictures of 5 same eyes (interindividual reliability),and one examiner scored the pictures of 5 eyes on five different days (intraindividual reliability).RESULTS: The PCO scoring system was very reliable. With PCO score range from 0 to 1.5, the interindividual reliability showed standard deviation between 0.05-0.087. Kruskal-Wallis analysis showed no significant difference (H=0.314,P=0.9726). The intraindividual reliability showed standard deviation between 0.041-0.067, no significant difference either (H =0.613, P =0.9616).CONCLUSION: This PCO quantification analysis system evaluates the central area (diameter=6mm) of posterior capsule which is larger than visual acuity or other objective testing. The system revealed high reliability and insignificant investigator-dependent difference. With a standardized photographic setup, systematic errors by the photographic technique were not relevant. This system was proved to be an easy and useful tool to accurately evaluate PCO.

OBJECTIVETooth eruption requires the presence of the dental follicle (DF) around the unerupted tooth. This study is to investigate programmed cell death on human dental follicle cells and changes of programmed cell death under different hydrostatic pressures: 0, 50 and 100 kPa.

METHODSHuman dental follicles from third mandibular molars were surgically removed from adolescents who need for orthodontics treatment after informed content, then trypsinized and cultured. Human dental follicle cells were divided into three groups according to different hydrostatic pressures: 0, 50 and 100 kPa and their programmed cell death were labeled by using TdT-medi-ated-dUTP nick and labeling (TUNEL).

RESULTSDental follicle cells cultured were elongate shape and exhibited fibroblastic characteristics. Compared with 0 kPa, programmed cell death cells on human dental follicle cells were increased 0.23% and 31.65% under 50 kPa and 100 kPa hydrostatic pressures respectively. 100 kPa group increased significantly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIt suggested that programmed cell death occured in human dental follicle cells cultured in vitro and was influenced by different hydrostatic pressures. Hydrostatic pressure may improve tooth erup-tion through dental follicle.

Adolescent ; Apoptosis ; Dental Sac ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Hydrostatic Pressure ; Molar ; Tooth Eruption

Objective To report a 33-year-old man with post-headache stroke-like episodes,with whom ischemic changes were found in basal ganglia and occipital-temporal lobe and muscle biopsy revealed abnormal mitochondrial structure and function without regular mutations detected in mtDNA.Methods Gene chip technique was used to detect the mutation of whole sequence of mtDNA,and direct sequencing technique was used to confirm the mutations.Results Three mutations were found.A new mutation in the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (MTCO1),a T→C transition at nucleotide position 6253 resulted in conservative methionine transferring to threonine.His mother also held the mutation,which was not found in 98 control samples.So T6253C was considered the nosogenetic mutation.Conclusion This is the first time to report a mutation in MTCO1 responsible of MELAS.

Objective To describe the characteristics of sexual debut among college students in China to provide appropriate sex education in that population. Methods An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among 33 653 college students selected by multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method in 18 provinces and cities of China. Results The percentage of students who had initiated sexual intercourse before age 14 was 1.9%. Overall, male students (2.8%) were significantly more likely to have initiated sexual intercourse before age 14, than female students (1.1%). The percentage of students who had initiated sexual intercourse from age 15 to 18 was 6.4% in males versus 2.1% in females. while the rates of students who had initiated sexual intercourse after age 19 were 6.9% in males and 2.6% in females. The first sexual intercourse was significantly associated with parental educational attainment, geographic location and family structure. Students whose parents were relatively well educated, living in the western areas of the country China, or with nucleus/extensive families were more likely to have early sex in their puberties. Conclusion Sexual education should be strengthened especially in the western areas, and targeted on the students whose parents with relatively higher educational background or who were from extensive families.

OBJECTIVETo detect the possible relationship between PARKIN gene and the Chinese pedigree with autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson's disease(AREP).

METHODSClinical examination was carried out in 6 patients from 3 Chinese pedigrees with AREP and their 23 family members. PCR amplification of all exons of PARKIN gene was performed. The PCR products were analyzed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC) to screen for point mutation and polymorphism. And in the samples with abnormal DHPLC result, further sequencing was conducted to confirm the type of mutation and polymorphism.

RESULTSAll exons of PARKIN gene from the research subjects were successfully amplified. A heterozygous point mutation (Gly284Arg) in exon 7 was found in one pedigree. A polymorphism (Ser167Asn) in exon 4 was found in another pedigree. All the patients had the past history of exposure to environmental poison.

CONCLUSIONWhen acting together with risky environmental factors, the heterozygous mutation Gly284Arg in PARKIN gene may cause AREP. The polymorphism Ser167Asn in PARKIN gene increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and may cause AREP when acting together with hydrargyrism.

Age of Onset ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, Recessive ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo summarize the surgical treatment and clinical bio-characteristics of primary esophageal adenocarcinoma (PEAC).

METHODSClinical data of 43 cases with PEAC who had undergone operation from February 1980 to December 2000 in Linzhou City Esophageal Tumor Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSForty-three cases PEAC were reported in this study, which were 0.8% out of 5638 cases pathologically confirmed esophageal carcinoma treated during this period. Twelve cases (27.9%) were in the middle 1/3 of esophagus, thirty-one cases (72.1%) in the lower 1/3, which were significantly different from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Fourteen cases were pure esophageal adenocarcinoma (32.6%), twenty-nine cases were adenosquamous cell carcinoma and adenoacanthoma cell carcinoma (67.4%). The ratio of lymph node metastasis of PEAC was higher than that of ESCC (65.1% vs. 31.6%, P < 0.001). The overall survival rates of 1, 3 and 5-year of PEAC were 81.4%, 46.5% and 28.2%, respectively, which were lower than those of ESCC (89.7%, 68.2% and 39.4%, respectively; chi 2 = 4.846, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with ESCC, PEAC, mainly located in the inferior 1/3 of esophagus, is a malignant disease with higher frequency of lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. Surgical resection should be the first choice of treatment. Early diagnosis and early treatment as well as curative operation could improve prognosis. The long-term survival may be increased by adjunct multi-modality treatment.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo identify the current epidemiological situation of injuries among adolescents in China and to provide basis for prevention and control.

METHODSAn anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among 170 602 middle school students in 18 provinces and cities of China.

RESULTSThe overall incidence of injuries among middle school students was 43.7% while the incidence of recurrent injuries was 20.9%. The incidence of boys was higher than that of girls mainly because of the difference of the recurrent injuries incidence. The incidence of injuries decreased with age in our investigation, especially the recurrent injuries. The main causes of injuries were fall and collision, and the most frequent results of injuries were cut and bone-joint injuries among boys and girls. Key school, nucleic family and higher education level of mothers were protective factors to injuries.

CONCLUSIONAdolescents seemed high-risk population for injuries. Some preventive measures should be carried out to decrease the incidence of injuries especially on recurrent injuries.

Adolescent ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Risk ; Students ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo report a Chinese Han family with two patients of Leigh syndrome (LS) and to scan the mutation in mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA).

METHODSThe clinical features and the laboratory findings were summarized. Mitochondrial DNA chip and direct sequencing were performed to detect the mutation in entire mtDNA.

RESULTSFailure of thrive, psychomotor retardation, hypotonia and weakness, cerebellar ataxia, and seizure were the main manifestations of the family. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed lesions at midbrain, periaqueductal gray matter, dentate nuclei of cerebellar and thalami. The levels of lactic acid and pyruvate were mildly abnormal. The mutation of ND5*13513 G to A was identified in the LS family.

CONCLUSIONPatients with ND5*13513 G to A mutation may have a characteristic clinical course and ND5 *13513 G to A might be a preferential candidate mutation of Leigh syndrome.

Base Sequence ; Child, Preschool ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Electron Transport Complex I ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Leigh Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed